Sample dispensing device



Feb. 10, 1953 R 3, R005 SAMPLE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 6, 1948 FIG. 2.

RAYMOND 5. R008 Cmorneg FIG. 4.

Patented Feb. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT omen Raymond B. Boos, Morristown, N. 3.

Application May 6, 1948, Serial N 0. 25,433

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to displaying and dispensing products such as samples of crackers or similar food products and confections; or utility products, such as soap powders where the samples can be individually packaged in condition for dispensing.

An object of this invention is to provide a packaged display and dispensing assemblage which may be used in a convenient and efficient manner in selling packages of the product.

In the past a great deal of effort has been expended in providing improved modes of introducing new products to the market and in accelerating sales of established products. For example, elaborate displays have been devised for attracting the attention of prospective customers, and human demonstrators have been employed to persuade the prospective customers to sample the products. In accordance with the present invention this type of sales promotion is facilitated and the high cost of demonstrators is avoided by an assemblage of packages by means of which samples of the product are attractively offered to prospective customers, and at the same spot where packages of the product are available for purchase, all such arrangements being made easily and quickly and at no expense by the retailer or his clerks.

In this specification and the accompanying drawing, I have shown and described a preferred u embodiment of my invention; it is to be understood that this is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the invention, but on the contrary is for purposes of illustration in order that those skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify and adapt it in various forms, each-as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view of a display assemblage constituting one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a sample dispensing package forming a part of the assemblage of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation with portions cut away of the package of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the package of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the wall portion and product dispensing unit of the package of Figure 2.

Referring particularly to Figure l of the drawmg, a package assemblage 2 is shown in the upright display position and is formed by three tiers of individual packages of a product such as crackers. During shipping the assemblage is held together by a carton 4, but for purposes of display the upper portion of the carton is removed leaving the bottom portion to hold the assemblage together as shown. Positioned at one side of the center tier is a dispensin package 6, the details of which are shownfi'fin Figures 2 to 5. As shown best in Figure 2} package 6 has on one side a paper cover, the bottom portion 8 of which is provided with a tear line or cut at 9 so that it can be easily torn free. This bottom portion 8 covers the front wall It of a dispensing chute I2 shown best in Figure 5. After the cover portion 8 has been removed, this chute may be pulled down to the position shown in Figure 1 and when so positioned the crackers within the package are moved into the chute so that they are accessible. The swinging movement of the chute is limited by the projecting portion M which moves against the front wall of the package.

Referring again to Figure 1, package 6 is positioned in the assemblage with its removable portion in the plane on one side of the assemblage. Therefore, when the assemblage is received in the carton 4 at a retail store, the upper portion of the carton is removed so as to exhibit the packages, and the assemblage placed on a counter or self-service shelf. Cover portion 8 is severed and the chute i2 is pulled out. It is thus seen that a display is provided which will provide a tempting offer of a sample at the very point where a customer can purchase the product. The space on and above chute l2 on the package 6 may carry display advertising urging the customer to try a sample, while the sales packages [6 carry the usual trade-marks and advertising display helpful in introducing the product to the public. That is, the packages 16 of the product are attractively displayed; samples may be taken by prospective customers from the open package 6, and. then the packages Iii above and around the sampling package 6 may be removed for purchase. Advantageously, the sampling package is pasted to the carton 4 or otherwise secured so that customers cannot remove it or accidentally upset it.

As various embodiments may be made of the above invention and as changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to 3 be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. I claim:

The combination in a merchandising device of a plurality of sales packages for sale of a food product, and a sampling package closely associated therewith having a portion of its face hinged whereby to open and expose its contents to invite sampling thereof, and inwardly extending wingsat the side edges thereof to hold 31 the exposed contents in the opening, said sampling package being positioned at the bottom of said combination with the other packagesfreely held adjacent thereto,- whereby. they can be removed individually, when sold, without disturbing said sampling packagewhich further includes a base to which the sampling package is secured, and on which the other packages are supported, whereby they hold the sampling package against removal.

j, RAYMOND B/ROOS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,592,221 Oltsch July 13, 1926 1,988,064 Wiemann Jan. 15, 1935 2,025,153 Byrd Dec. 24, 1935 2,259,041 Larkin Oct. 14, 1941 2,284,527 Lonz May 26, 1942 2,289,178 Conway et al July 7, 1942 2,506,385 Reamer May 2, 1950 v FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date a 282,660 7 Great Britain May 10, 1928 454,281 Great Britain Sept. 28, 1936 

